*M 


7o.l 


V,r^"    V< 


ft 


°*\ 


a-o-c, 


-K» 


tffBt^oYC* 


(3dM4 


ow 


STEPHEN  B.  WEEKS 

CLASS  OF  1886;  PHD.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 


OF  THE 


HE  WEEKS  OTJLEC1TON 

OF 


^970,1-Ba.jT1 


m 


c.^, 


<0lii    £outf>    %taUzt$. 


No.  92. 


The 

First  Voyage  to 

Roanoke. 

1584. 


r 
on 


The  First  Voyage  made  to  the  Coasts  of  America,  with  two 
Barks,  wherein  were  Captains  M.  Philip  Amadas,  and  M. 
Arthur  Barlowe,  who  discovered  Part  of  the  Countrey 
now  called  virginia  anno  1 584.  written  by  one  of  the 
said  captaines,  and  sent  to  slr  walter  ralegh,  knight,  at 
whose   Charge  and    Direction,  the    said    Voyage    was    set 

FORTH.* 

The  27  day  of  Aprill,  in  the  yeere  of  our  redemption,  1584 
we  departed  the  West  of  England,  with  two  barkes  well  fur- 
nished with  men  and  victuals,  having  received  our  last  and 
perfect  directions  by  your  letters,  confirming  the  former 
instructions,  and  commandements  delivered  by  your  selfe  at 
our  leaving  the  river  of  Thames.  And  I  thinke  it  a  matter 
both  unnecessary,  for  the  manifest  discoverie  of  the  Countrey, 
as  also  for  tediousnesse  sake,  to  remember  unto  you  the 
diurnall  of  our  course,  sayling  thither  and  returning ;  onely  I 
have  presumed  to  present  unto  you  this  briefe  discourse,  by 
which  you  may  judge  how  profitable  this  land  is  likely  to 
succeede,  as  well  to  your  selfe,  by  whose  direction  and  charge, 
and  by  whose  servantes  this  our  discoverie  hath  beene  per- 
formed, as  also  to  her  Highnesse,  and  the  Commonwealth,  in 
which  we  hope  your  wisdome"  wilbe  satisfied,  considering  that 
as  much  by  us  hath  bene  brought  to  light,  as  by  those  smal 
meanes,  and  number  of  men  we  had,  could  any  way  have  bene 
expected,  or  hoped  for. 

The  tenth  of  May  we  arrived  at  the  Canaries,  and  the 
tenth  of  June  in  this  present  yeere,  we  were  fallen  with  the 
Islands  of  the  West  Indies,  keeping  a  more  Southeasterly 
course  then  was  needefull,  because  wee  doubted  that  the  cur- 

*The  narrative  was  written  by  Barlowe,  as  appears  from  a  sentence  in  the  same. 


rent  of  the  Bay  of  Mexico,  disbogging  betweene  the  Cape  of 
Florida  and  Havana,  had  bene  of  greater  force  then  after- 
wards we  found  it  to  bee.  At  which  Islands  we  found  the 
ayre  very  unwholsome,  and  our  men  grew  for  the  most  part 
ill  disposed :  so  that  having  refreshed  our  selves  with  sweet 
water,  &  fresh  victuall,  we  departed  the  twelfth  day  of  our 
arrivall  there.  These  islands,  with  the  rest  adjoining,  are  so 
well  knowen  to  your  selfe,  and  to  many  others,  as  I  will  not 
trouble  you  with  the  rememberance  of  them. 

The  second  of  July  we  found  shole  water,  wher  we  smelt 
so  sweet,  and  so  strong  a  smel,  as  if  we  had  bene  in  the  midst 
of  some  delicate  garden  abounding  with  all  kinde  of  odor- 
iferous flo*wers,  by  which  we  were  assured,  that  the  land  could 
not  be  farre  distant :  and  keeping  good  watch,  and  bearing 
but  slacke  saile,  the  fourth  of  the  same  moneth  we  arrived 
upon  the  coast,  which  we  supposed  to  be  a  continent  and 
firme  lande,  and  we  sayled  along  the  same  a  hundred  and 
twentie  English  miles  before  we  could  finde  any  entrance,  or 
river  issuing  into  the  Sea.  The  first  that  appeared  unto  us, 
we  entred,  though  not  without  some  difficultie,  &  cast  anker 
about  three  harquebuz-shot  within  the  havens  mouth  on 
the  left  hand  of  the  same :  and  after  thanks  given  to  God 
for  our  safe  arrivall  thither,  we  manned  our  boats,  and 
went  to  view  the  land  next  adjoyning,  and  to  take  possession 
of  the  same,  in  the  right  of  the  Queenes  most  excellent 
Majestie,  and  rightfull  Queene,  and  Princesse  of  the  same, 
and  after  delivered  the  same  over  to  your  use,  according  to 
her  Majesties  grant,  and  letters  patents,  under  her  Highnesse 
great  seale.  Which  being  performed,  according  to  the  cere- 
monies used  in  such  enterprises,  we  viewed  the  land  about  us, 
being,  whereas  we  first  landed,  very  sandie  and  low  towards 
the  waters  side,  but  so  full  of  grapes,  as  the  very  beating  and 
surge  of  the  Sea  overflowed  them,  of  which  we  found  such 
plentie,  as  well  there  as  in  all  places  else,  both  on  the  sand 
and  on  the  greene  soile  on  the  hils,  as  in  the  plaines,  as  well 
on  every  little  shrubbe,  as  also  climing  towardes  the  tops  -of 
high  Cedars,  that  I  thinke  in  all  the  world  the  like  abun- 
dance is  not  to  be  found :  and  my  selfe  having  seene  those 
parts  of  Europe  that  most  abound,  find  such  difference  as  were 
incredible  to  be  written. 

We  passed  from  the  Sea  side  towardes  the  toppes  of  those 
hilles    next    adjoyning,  being  but  of  meane    higth,   and   from 


thence  wee  behelde  the  Sea  on  both  sides  to  the  North,  and  to 
the  South,  finding  no  ende  any  of  both  wayes.  This  lande 
laye  stretching  it  selfe  to  the  West,  which  after  wee  found  to 
bee  but  an  Island  of  twentie  miles  long,  and  not  above  sixe 
miles  broade.  Under  the  banke  or  hill  whereon  we  stoode, 
we  behelde  the  vallyes  replenished  with  goodly  Cedar  trees, 
and  having  discharged  our  harquebuz-shot,  such  a  flocke  of 
Cranes  (the  most  part  white),  arose  under  us,  with  such  a  cry 
redoubled  by  many  ecchoes,  as  if  an  armie  of  men  had  showted 
all  together. 

This  Island  had  many  goodly  woodes  full  of  Deere,  Conies, 
Hares,  and  Fowle,  even  in  the  middest  of  Summer  in  in- 
credible abundance.  The  woodes  are  not  such  as  you  finde 
in  Bohemia,  Moscouia,  or  Hercynia,  barren  and  fruitles,  but 
the  highest  and  reddest  Cedars  of  the  world,  farre  bettering 
the  Ceders  of  the  Acores,  of  the  Indies,  or  Lybanus,  Pynes, 
Cypres,  Sassaphras,  the  Lentisk,  or  the  tree  that  beareth 
the  Masticke,  the  tree  that  beareth  the  rine  of  blacke  Sina- 
mon,  of  which  Master  Winter  brought  from  the  streights  of 
Magellan,  and  many  other  of  excellent  smell  and  qualitie. 
We  remained  by  the  side  of  this  Island  two  whole  dayes 
before  we  saw  any  people  of  the  Countrey :  the  third  day  we 
espied  one  small  boate  rowing  towardes  us  having  in  it  three 
persons :  this  boat  came  to  the  Island  side,  foure  harquebuz- 
shot  from  our  shippes,  and  there  two  of  the  people  remain- 
ing, the  third  came  along  the  shoreside  towards  us,  and  wee 
being  then  all  within  boord,  he  walked  up  and  downe  upon 
the  point  of  the  land  next  unto  us  :  then  the  Master  and  the 
Pilot  of  the  Admirall,  Simon  Ferdinando,  and  the  Captaine 
Philip  Amadas,  my  selfe,  and  others  rowed  to  the  land, 
whose  comming  this  fellow  attended,  never  making  any  shewe 
of  feare  or  doubt.  And  after  he  had  spoken  of  many  things 
not  understood  by  us,  we  brought  him  with  his  owne  good 
liking,  aboord  the  ships,  and  gave  him  a  shirt,  a  hat  &  some 
other  things,  and  made  him  taste  of  our  wine,  and  our  meat, 
which  he  liked  very  wel :  and  after  having  viewed  both  barks, 
he  departed,  and  went  to  his  owne  boat  againe,  which  hee  had 
left  in  a  little  Cove  or  Creeke  adjoyning :  assoone  as  hee  was 
two  bow  shoot  into  the  water,  hee  fell  to  fishing,  and  in  lesse 
then  halfe  an  houre,  he  had  laden  his  boate  as  deepe  as  it 
could  swimme,  with  which  hee  came  againe  to  the  point  of  the 
lande,  and  there  he  divided  his  fish  into  two  parts,  pointing 


one  part  to  the  ship,  and  the  other  to  the  pinnesse :  which, 
after  he  had,  as  much  as  he  might,  requited  the  former  bene- 
fites  received,  departed  out  of  our  sight. 

The  next  day  there  came  unto  us  divers  boates,  and  in 
one  of  them  the  Kings  brother,  accompanied  with  fortie  or 
,fiftie  men,  very  handsome  and  goodly  people,  and  in  their 
behaviour  as  mannerly  and  civill  as  any  of  Europe.  His 
name  was  Granganimeo,  and  the  king  is  called  Wingina, 
the  countrey  Wingandacoa,  and  now  by  her  Majestie  Vir- 
ginia. The  manner  of  his  comming  was  in  this  sort:  hee 
/  left  his  boates  altogether  as  the  first  man  did  a  little  from  the 
shippes  by  the  shore,  and  came  along  to  the  place  over  against 
the  shipes,  followed  with  fortie  men.  When  he  came  to  the 
place,  his  servants  spread  a  long  matte  upon  the  ground,  on 
which  he  sate  downe,  and  at  the  other  ende  of  the  matte  foure 
others  of  his  companie  did  the  like,  the  rest  of  his  men  stood 
round  about  him,  somewhat  a  farre  off :  when  we  came  to  the 
shore  to  him  with  our  weapons,  hee  never  mooved  from  his 
place,  nor  any  of  the  other  foure,  nor  never  mistrusted  any 
harme  to  be  offered  from  us,  but  sitting  still  he  beckoned  us  to 
come  and  sit  by  him,  which  we  performed :  and  being  set  hee 
made  all  signes  of  joy  and  welcome,  striking  on  his  head  and 
his  breast  and  afterwardes  on  ours  to  shew  wee  were  all  one, 
smiling  and  making  shewe  the  best  he  could  of  al  love,  and 
familiaritie.  After  hee  had  made  a  long  speech  unto  us,  wee 
presented  him  with  divers  things,  which  hee  received  very  joy- 
fully, and  thankefully.  None  of  the  company  durst  speake  one 
worde  all  the  time  :  only  the  foure  which  were  at  the  other 
ende,  spake  one  in  the  others  eare  very  softly. 

The  King  is  greatly  obeyed,  and  his  brothers  and  children 
reverenced :  the  King  himself  in  person  was  at  our  being 
there,  sore  wounded  in  a  fight  which  hee  had  with  the  King 
of  the  next  countrey,  called  Wingina,  and  was  shot  in  two 
places  through  the  body,  and  once  cleane  through  the  thigh, 
but  yet  he  recovered:  by  reason  whereof  and  for  that  hee 
lay  at  the  chief  towne  of  the  countrey,  being  sixe  dayes 
journey  off,  we  saw  him  not  at  all. 

After  we  had  presented  this  his  brother  with  such  things 
as  we  thought  he  liked,  wee  likewise  gave  somewhat  to  the 
other  that  sat  with  him  on  the  matte :  but  presently  he  arose 
and  tooke  all  from  them  and  put  it  into  his  owne  basket, 
making  signes  and  tokens,  that  all  things    ought    to  bee  de- 


5 

livered  unto  him,  and  the  rest  were  but  his  servants,  and 
followers.  A  day  or  two  after  this,  we  fell  to  trading  with 
them,  exchanging  some  things  that  we  had,  for  Chamoys,  Buffe, 
and  Deere  skinnes  :  when  we  shewed  him  all  our  packet  of 
merchandize,  of  all  things  that  he  sawe,  a  bright  tinne  dish 
most  pleased  him,  which  hee  presently  tooke  up  and  clapt  it 
before  his  breast,  and  after  made  a  hole  in  the  brimme  thereof 
and  hung  it  about  his  necke,  making  signes  that  it .  would  de- 
fende  him  against  his  enemies  arrowes :  for  those  people  main- 
taine  a  deadly  and  terrible  warre,  with  the  people  and  King 
adjoyning.  We  exchanged  our  tinne  dish  for  twentie  skinnes, 
woorth  twentie  Crownes,  or  twentie  Nobles :  and  a  copper 
kettle  for  fiftie  skins  woorth  fifty  Crownes.  They  offered  us 
good  exchange  for  our  hatchets,  and  axes,  and  for  knives,  and 
would'  have  given  any  thing  for  swordes :  but  wee  would  not 
depart  with  any.  After  two  or  three  dayes  the  Kings  brother' 
came  aboord  the  shippes,  and  dranke  wine,  and  eat  of  our 
meat  and  of  our  bread,  and  liked  exceedingly  thereof  :  and 
after  a  few  dayes  overpassed,  he  brought  his  wife  with  him  to 
the  ships,  his  daughter  and  two  or  three  children :  his  wife  was 
very  well  favoured,  of  meane  stature,  and  very  bashfull : 
shee  had  on  her  backe  a  long  cloake  of  leather,  with  the  furre 
side  next  to  her  body,  and  before  her  a  piece  of  the  same : 
about  her  forehead  shee  had  a  bande  of  white  Corall,  and  so 
had  her  husband  many  times  :  in  her  eares  shee  had  bracelets 
of  pearles  hanging  downe  to  her  middle,  whereof  wee  delivered 
your  worship  a  little  bracelet,  and  those  were  of  the  bignes  of 
good  pease.  The  rest  of  her  women  of  the  better  sort  had 
pendants  of  copper  hanging  in  either  eare,  and  some  of  the 
children  of  the  Kings  brother  and  other  noble  men,  have  five 
or  sixe  in  either  eare :  he  himselfe  had  upon  his  head  a  broad 
plate  of  golde,  or  copper,  for  being  unpolished  we  knew  not 
what  mettal  it  should  be,  neither  would  he  by  any  means  suffer 
us  to  take  it  off  his  head,  but  feeling  it,  it  would  bow  very 
easily.  His  apparell  was  as  his  wives,  onely  the  women  weare 
their  haire  long  on  both  sides,  and  the  men  but  on  one.  They 
are  of  colour  yellowish,  and  their  haire  black  for  the  most  part, 
and  yet  we  saw  children  that  had  very  fine  aburne  and  chesnut 
coloured  haire. 

After  that  these  women  had  bene  there,  there  came  downe 
from  all  parts  great  store  of  people,  bringing  with  them  leather, 
corall,  divers   kindes  of  dies,   very  excellent,   and  exchanged 


with  us  :  but  when  Granganimeo  the  kings  brother  was  present, 
none  durst  trade  but  himselfe  :  except  such  as  weare  red  pieces 
of  copper  on  their  heads  like  himselfe :  for  that  is  the  differ- 
ence betweene  the  noble  men,  and  the  gouvernours  of  coun- 
treys,  and  the  meaner  sort.  And  we  both  noted  there,  and 
you  have  understood  since  by  these  men,  which  we  brought 
home,  that  no  people  in  the  worlde  cary  more  respect  to  their 
King,  Nobilitie,  and  Governours,  then  these  doe.  The  Kings 
brothers  wife,  when  she  came  to  us,  as  she  did  many  times, 
was  followed  with  forty  or  fifty  women  alwayes  :  and  when  she 
came  into  the  shippe,  she  left  them  all  on  land,  saving  her  two 
daughters,  her  nurse  and  one  or  two  more.  The  kings  brother 
alwayes  kept  this  order,  as  many  boates  as  he  would  come  with- 
all  to  the  shippes,  so  many  fires  would  hee  make  on  the  shore 
a  farre  off,  to  the  end  we  might  understand  with  what  strength 
and  company  he  approched.  Their  boates  are  made  of  one 
tree,  either  of  Pine  or  of  Pitch  trees  :  a  wood  not  commonly 
knowen  to  our  people,  nor  found  growing  in  England.  They 
have  no  edge-tooles  to  make  them  withall :  if  they  have  any 
they  are  very  fewe,  and  those  it  seemes  they  had  twentie  yeres 
since,  which,  as  those  two  men  declared,  was  out  of  a  wrake 
which  happened  upon  their  coast  of  some  Christian  ship,  being 
beaten  that  way  by  some  storme  and  outragious  weather, 
whereof  none  of  the  people  were  saved,  but  only  the  ship,  or 
some  part  of  her  being  cast  upon  the  sand,  out  of  whose  sides 
they  drew  the  nayles  and  the  spikes,  and  with  those  they  made 
their  best  instruments.  The  manner  of  making  their  boates 
is  thus  :  they  burne  downe  some  great  tree,  or  take  such  as  are 
winde  fallen,  and  putting  gumme  and  rosen  upon  one  side 
thereof,  they  set  fire  into  it,  and  when  it  hath  burnt  it  hollow, 
they  cut  out  the  coale  with  their  shels,  and  ever  where  they 
would  burne  it  deeper  or  wider  they  lay  on  gummes,  which 
burne  away  the  timber,  and  by  this  meanes  they  fashion  very 
fine  boates,  and  such  as  will  transport  twentie  men.  Their 
oares  are  like  scoopes,  and  many  times  they  set  with  long 
poles,  as  the  depth  serveth. 

The  Kings  brother  had  great  liking  of  our  armour,  a  sword, 
and  divers  other  things  which  we  had  :  and  offered  to  lay  a 
great  boxe  of  pearle  in  gage  for  them.:  but  we  refused  it  for 
this  time,  because  we  would  not  make  them  knowe,  that  we 
esteemed  thereof,  untill  we  had  understoode  in  what  places  of 
the  countrey  the  pearle  grew :  which  now  your  Worshippe 
doeth  very  well  understand. 


He  was  very  just  of  his  promise  :  for  many  times  we  de- 
livered him  merchandize  upon  his  word,  but  ever  he  came 
within  the  day  and  performed  his  promise.  He  sent  us  every 
day  a  brase  or  two  of  fat  Bucks,  Conies,  Hares,  Fish  and  best 
of  the  world.  He  sent  us  divers  kindes  of  fruites,  Melons, 
Walnuts,  Cucumbers,  Gourdes,  Pease,  and  divers  rootes,  and 
fruites  very  excellent  good,  and  of  their  Countrey  corne,  which 
is  very  white,  faire  and  well,  tasted,  and  groweth  three  times  in 
five  moneths :  in  May  they  sow,  in  July  they  reape,  in  June 
they  sow,  in  August  they  reape : ,  in  July  they  sow,  in  Sep- 
tember they  reape  :  onely  they  cast  the  corne  into  the  ground, 
breaking  a  little  of  the  soft  turfe  with  a  wodden  mattock,  or 
pickaxe  ;  our  selves  prooved  the  soile,  and  put  some  of  our 
Pease  in  the  ground,  and  in  tenne  dayes  they  were  of  four- 
teene  ynches  high  :  they  have  also  Beanes  very  faire  of  divers 
colours  and  wonderfull  plentie  :  some  growing  naturally,  and 
some  in  their  gardens,  and  so  have  they  both  wheat  and  oates. 

The  soile  is  the  most  plentifull,  sweete,  fruitfull  and  whole- 
some of  all  the  worlde  :  there  are  above  fourteene  severall 
sweete  smelling  timber  trees,  and  the  most  part  of  their  under- 
woods are  Bayes  and  such  like  :  they  have  those  Okes  that  we 
have,  but  farre  greater  and  better.  After  they  had  bene  divers 
times  aboord  our  shippes,  my  selfe,  with  seven  more  went 
twentie  mile  into  the  River,  that  runneth  towarde  the  Citie  of 
Skicoak,  which  River  they  call  Occam  :  and  the  evening  follow- 
ing wee  came  to  an  Island  which  they  call  Roanoak,  distant 
from  the  harbour  by  which  we  entred,  seven  leagues :  and  at 
the  North  end  thereof  was  a  village  of  nine  houses,  built  of 
Cedar,  and  fortified  round  about  with  sharpe  trees,  to  keepe 
out  their  enemies,  and  the  entrance  into  it  made  like  a  turne- 
pike  very  artificially ;  when  wee  came  towardes  it,  standing 
neere  unto  the  waters  side,  the  wife  of  Granganimo  the  Kings 
brother  came  running  out  to  meete  us  very  cheerfully  and 
friendly,  her  husband  was  not  then  in  the  village  ;  some  of  her 
people  shee  commanded  to  drawe  our  boate  on  shore  for  the 
beating  of  the  billoe  :  others  she  appointed  to  cary  us  on  their 
backes  to  the  dry  ground,  and  others  to  bring  our  oares  into 
the  house  for  feare  of  stealing.  When  we  were  come  into  the 
utter  roome,  having  five  roomes  in  her  house,  she  caused  us 
to  sit  downe  by  a  great  fire,  and  after  tooke  off  our  clothes  and 
washed  them,  and  dryed  them  againe :  some  of  the  women 
plucked  off  our  stockings  and  washed  them,  some  washed  our 


feete  in  warrae  water,  and  she  herselfe  tooke  great  paines  to 
see  all  things  ordered  in  the  best  maner  shee  could,  making 
great  haste  to  dresse  some  meate  for  us  to  eate. 

After  we  had  thus  dryed  ourselves,  she  brought  us  into 
the  inner  roome,  where  shee  set  on  the  boord  standing  along 
the.  house,  some  wheate  like  furmentie,  sodden  Venison,  and 
roasted,  fish  sodden,  boyled  and  roasted,  Melons  rawe,  and 
sodden,  rootes  of  divers  kindes  «and  divers  fruites :  their 
drinke  is  commonly  water,  but  while  the  grape  lasteth,  they 
drinke  wine,  and  for  want  of  caskes  to  keepe  it,  all  the  yere 
after  they  drink  water,  but  it  is  sodden  with  Ginger  in  it  and 
blacke  Sinamon,  and  sometimes  Sassaphras,  and  divers  other 
wholesome,  and  medicinable  hearbes  and  trees.  We  were  en- 
tertained with  all  love  and  kindnesse,  and  with  much  bountie, 
after  their  maner,  as  they  could' possibly  devise.  We  found 
the  people  most  gentle,  loving  and  faithfull,  voide  of  all  guile 
and  treason,  and  such  as  live  after  the  manner  of  the  golden 
age.  The  people  onely  care  howe  to  defend  themselves  from 
the  cold  in  their  short  winter,  and  to  feed  themselves  with  such 
meat  as  the  soile  affoordeth  :  there  meat  is  very  well  sodden 
and  they  make  broth  very  sweet  and  savorie  :  their  vessels  are 
earthen  pots,  very  large,  white  and  sweete,  their  dishes  are 
wooden  platters  of  sweet  timber :  within  the  place  where  they 
feede  was  their  lodging,  and  within  that  their  Idoll,  which  they 
worship,  of  whorae  they  speake  incredible  things.  While  we 
were  at  meate,  there  came  in  at  the  gates  two  or  three  men 
with  their  bowes  and  arrowes  from  hunting,  whom  when  wee 
espied,  we  beganne  to  looke  one  towardes  another,  and 
offered  to  reach  our  weapons  :  but  assoone  as  shee  espied  our 
mistrust,  shee  was  very  much  mooved,  and  caused  some  of  her 
men  to  runne  out,  and  take  away  their  bowes  and  arrowes  and 
breake  them,  and  withall  beate  the  poore  fellowes  out  of  the 
gate  againe.  When  we  departed  in  the  evening  and  would  not 
tary  all  night  she  was  very  sorry,  and  gave  us  into  our  boate 
our  supper  halfe  dressed,  pottes  and  all,  and  brought  us  to  our 
boate  side,  in  which  wee  lay  all  night,  remooving  the  same  a 
prettie  distance  from  the  shoare  :  shee  perceiving  our  jealousie, 
was  much  grieved,  and  sent  divers  men  and  thirtie  women,  to 
sit  all  night  on  the  banke  side  by  us,  and  sent  us  into  our 
boates  five  mattes  to  cover  us  from  the  raine,  using  very  many 
wordes,  to  entreate  us  to  rest  in  their  houses :  but  because  wee 
were  fewe  men,  and  if  wee  had  miscaried,  the  voyage  had  bene 


in  very  great  danger,  wee  durst  not  adventure  any  thing,  al- 
though there  was  no  cause  of  doubt :  for  a  more  kinde  and 
loving  people  there  can  not  be  found  in  the  worlde,  as  farre  as 
we  have  hitherto  had  triall. 

'Beyond  this  Island  there  is  the  maine  lande,  and  over 
against  this  Island  falleth  into  this  spacious  water,  the  great 
river  called  Occam  by  the  inhabitants  on  which  standeth  a 
towne  called  Pomeiock,  &  sixe  days  journey  from  the  same  is 
situate  their  greatest  citie,  called  Skicoak,  which  this  people 
affirme  to  be  very  great :  but  the  Savages  were  never  at  it,  only 
they  speake  of  it  by  the  report  of  their  fathers  and  other  men, 
whom  they  have  heard  affirme  it  to  bee  above  one  houres 
journey  about. 

Into  this  river  falleth  another  great  river,  called  Cipo,  in 
which  there  is  found  great  store  of  Muskles  in  which  there  are 
pearles  :  likewise  there  descendeth  into  this  Occam,  another 
river,  called  Nomopana,  on  the  one  side  whereof  standeth  a 
great  towne  called  Chawanook,  and  the  Lord  of  that  towne  and 
countrey  is  called  Pooneno  :  this  Pooneno  is  not  subject  to  the 
King  of  Wingandacoa,  but  is  a  free  Lord :  beyond  this  country 
is  there  another  king,  whom  they  cal  Menatonon,  and  these 
three  kings  are  in  league  with  each  other.  Towards  the  South- 
west, foure  dayes  journey  is  situate  a  towne  called  Sequotan, 
which  is  the  Southermost  towne  of  Wingandacoa,  neere  unto 
which,  sixe  and  twentie  yeres  past  there  was  a  ship  cast  away, 
whereof  some  of  the  people  were  saved,  and  those  were  white 
people  whom  the  countrey  people  perserved. 

And  after  ten  dayes  remaining  in  an  out  Island  unhabited, 
called  Wocokon,  they  with  the  help  of  some  of  the  dwellers 
of  Sequotan  fastened  two  boates  of  the  countrey  together  & 
made  mastes  unto  them  and  sailes  of  their  shirtes,  and  having 
taken  into  them  such  victuals  as  the  countrey  yeelded,  they 
departed  after  they  had  remained  in  this  out  Island  3  weekes : 
but  shortly  after  it  seemed  they  were  cast  away,  for  the  boates 
were  found  upon  the  coast  cast  a  land  in  another  Island 
adjoyning :  other  then  these,  there  was  never  any  people 
apparelled,  or  white  of  colour,  either  seene  or  heard  of 
amongst  these  people,  and  these  aforesaid  were  seene  onely 
of  the  inhabitantes  of  Secotan,  which  appeared  to  be  very  true, 
for  they  wondred  marvelously  when  we  were  amongst  them 
at  the  whitenes  of  our  skins,  ever  coveting  to  touch  our  breasts, 
and  to  view  the  same.     Besides  they  had  our  ships  in  marvel- 


IO 

ous  admiration,  &  all  things  els  were  so  strange  unto  them,  as 
it  appeared  that  none  of  them  had  ever  seene  the  like.  When 
we  discharged  any  piece,  were  it  but  an  hargubuz,  they  would 
tremble  thereat  for  very  feare  and  for  the  strangenesse  of  the 
same  :  for  the  weapons  which  themselves  use  are  bowes  and 
arrowes  :  the  arrowes  are  but  of  small  canes,  headed  with  a 
sharpe  shell  or  tooth  of  a  fish  sufficient  ynough  to  kill  a  naked 
man.  Their  swordes  be  of  wood  hardened  :  likewise  they  use 
wooden  breastplates  for  their  defence.  They  have  beside  a 
kinde  of  club,  in  the  end  whereof  they  fasten  the  sharpe  horns 
of  a  stagge,  or  other  beast.  When  they  goe  to  warres  they  cary 
about  with  them  their  idol,  of  whom  they  aske  counsel,  as  the 
Romans  were  woont  of  the  Oracle  of  Apollo.  They  sing  songs 
as  they  march  towardes  the  tfattell  in  stead  of  drummes  and 
trumpets  :  their  warres  are  very  cruell  and  bloody,  by  reason 
whereof,  and  of  their  civill  dissentions  which  have  happened  of 
late  yeeres  amongst  them,  the  people  are  marvelously  wasted, 
and  in  some  places  the  countrey  left  desolate. 

Adjoyning  to  this  countrey  aforesaid  called  Secotan  begin- 
neth  a  countrey  called  Pomouik,  belonging  to  another  king 
whom  they  call  Piamacum,  and  this  king  is  in  league  with 
the  next  king  adjoyning  towards  the  setting  of  the  Sunne,  and 
the  countrey  Newsiok,  situate  upon  a  goodly  river  called  Neus : 
these  kings  have  mortall  warre  with  Wingina  king  of  Wingan- 
dacoa :  but  about  two  yeeres  past  there  was  a  peace  made  be- 
tweene  the  King  Piemacum,  and  the  Lord  of  Secotan,  as  these 
men  which  we  have  brought  with  us  to  England,  have  given  us 
to  understand :  but  there  remaineth  a  mortall  malice  in  the 
Secotanes,  for  many  injuries  &  slaughters  done  upon  them  by 
this  Piemacum.  They  invited  divers  men,  and  thirtie  women 
of  the  best  of  his  countrey  to  their  towne  to  a  feast :  and  when 
they  were  altogether  merry,  &  praying  before  their  Idoll,  which 
is  nothing  els  but  a  meer  illusion  of  the  devill,  the  captaine  or 
Lord  of  the  town  came  suddenly  upon  the,  and  slewe  them 
every  one,  reserving  the  women  and  children  :  and  these  two 
have  oftentimes  since  perswaded  us  to  surprise  Piemacum  his 
towne,  having  promised  and  assured  us,  that  there  will  be 
found  in  it  great  store  of  commodities.  But  whether  their 
perswasion  be  to  the  ende  they  may  be  revenged  of  their 
enemies,  or  for  the  love  they  beare  to  us,  we  leave  that  to  the 
tryall  hereafter. 

Beyond  this  Island  called  Roanoak,  are  maine  Islands  very 


II 

plentifull  of  fruits  and  other  naturall  increases,  together  with 
many  townes,  and  villages,  along  the  side  of  the  continent, 
some  bounding  upon  the  Islands,  and  some  stretching  up 
further  into  the  land. 

When  we  first  had  sight  of  this  countrey,  some  thought  the 
first  land  we  saw  to  bee  the  continent :  but  after  we  entred  into 
the  Haven,  we  saw  before  us  another  mighty  long  Sea :  for 
there  lyeth  along  the  coast  a  tracte  of  Islands,  two  hundreth 
miles  in  length,  adjoyning  to  the  Ocean  sea,  and  betweene  the 
Islands,  two  or  three  entrances :  when  you  are  entred  betweene 
them,  these  Islands  being  very  narrow  for  the  most  part,  as  in 
most  places  sixe  miles  broad,  in  some  places  lesse,  in  few 
more,  then  there  appeareth  another  great  Sea,  containing  in 
bredth  in  some  places,  forty,  and  in  some  fifty,  in  some  twenty 
miles  over,  before  you  come  unto  the  continent :  and  in  this 
inclosed  Sea  there  are  above  an  hundreth  Islands  of  divers 
bignesses,  whereof  one  is  sixteene  miles  long,  at  which  we 
were,  finding  it  a  most  pleasant  and  fertile  ground  ;  replenished 
with  goodly  Cedars,  and  divers  other  sweete  woods,  full  of 
Corrants,  of  flaxe,  and  many  other  notable  commodities,  which 
we  at  that  time  had  no  leasure  to  view.  Besides  this  Island 
there  are  many,  as  I  have  sayd,  some  of  two,  or  three,  of  foure, 
of  five  miles,  some  more,  some  lesse,  most  beautifull  and  pleas- 
ant to  behold,  replenished  with  Deere,  Conies,  Hares  and 
divers  beasts,  and  about  them  the  goodliest  and  best  fish  in  the 
world,  and  in  greatest  abundance. 

Thus,  Sir,  we  have  acquainted  you  with  the  particulars  of 
our  discovery  made  this  present  voyage,  as  farre  foorth  as  the 
shortnesse  of  the  time  we  there  continued  would  affoord  us 
to  take  viewe  of :  and  so  contenting  our  selves  with  this  ser- 
vice at  this  time,  which  wee  hope  here  after  to  inlarge,  as 
occasion  and  assistance  shalbe  given,  we  resolved  to  leave  the 
countrey,  and  to  apply  ourselves  to  returne  for  England,  which 
we  did  accordingly,  and  arrived  safely  in  the  West  of  England 
about  the  middest  of  September. 

And  whereas  wee  have  above  certified  you  of  the  countrey 
taken  in  possession  by  us  to  her  Majesties  use,  and  so  to  yours 
by  her  Majesties  grant,  wee  thought  good  for  the  better  assur- 
ance thereof  to  record  some  of  the  particular  Gentlemen  &  men 
of  accompt,  who  then  were  present,  as  witnesses  of  the  same, 
that  thereby  all  occasion  of  cavill  to  the  title  of  the  countrey, 
in  her  Majesties  behalfe  may  be  prevented,  which  otherwise, 


12 

such    as   like    not    the    action    may    use    and    pretend,    whose 
names  are : 

Master  Philip  Amadas,    ")  r        . 

Master  Arthur  Barlow,  j     a?  aines' 

William  Greenvile,  John  Wood,  James  Browewich,  Henry- 
Greene,  Benjamin  Wood,  Simon  Ferdinando,  Nicholas  Petman, 
John  Hewes,  of  the  companie. 

We  brought  home  also  two  of  the  Savages  being  lustie  men, 
whose  names  were  Wanchese  and  Manteo. 


Charter  in  Favor  of  Sir  Walter  Ralegh,  Knight,  for  the  Dis- 
covery and  Planting  of  New  Lands  in  America,  25  March 
1584. 

Elizabeth  by  the  grace  of  God  of  England,  France  and  Ire- 
land Queene,  defender  of  the  faith,  &c.  To  all  people  to 
whom  these  presents  shal  come,  greeting.  Know  ye  that 
of  our  especial  grace,  certaine  science,  &  meere  motion,  we  have 
given  and  graunted,  and  by  these  presents  for  us,  our  heires 
and  successors  doe  give  and  graunt  to  our  trusty  and  welbeloved 
servant  Walter  Ralegh  Esquire,  and  to  his  heires  and  assignes 
for  ever,  free  liberty  &  licence  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all 
times  for  ever  hereafter,  to  discover,  search,  finde  out,  and  view 
such  remote,  heathen  and  barbarous  lands,  countreis,  and  ter- 
ritories, not  actually  possessed  of  any  Christian  prince,  nor  in- 
habited by  Christian  people,  as  to  him,  his  heires  and  assignes, 
and  to  every  or  any  of  them  shall  seeme  good,  and  the  same  to 
have,  holde,  occupy  &  enjoy  to  him,  his  heires  and  assignes 
for  ever,  with  all  prerogatives,  commodities,  jurisdictios,  royal- 
ties, privileges,  franchises  and  preeminences,  thereto  or  there- 
abouts both  by  sea  and  land,  whatsoever  we  by  our  letters 
patents  may  grant,  and  as  we  or  any  of  our  noble  progenitors 
have  heretofore  granted  to  any  person  or  persons,  bodies  poli- 
tique or  corporate  :  and  the  saide  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires 
and  assignes,  and  all  such  as  from  time  to  time,  by  licence  of 
us,  our  heires  and  successors,  shal  goe  or  travaile  thither  to 
inhabite  or  remaine,  there  to  build  and  fortifie,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  said  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires  &  assignes,  the  stat- 
utes or  act  of  Parliament  made  against  fugitives,  or  against 
such  as  shall  depart,  remaine  or  continue  out  of  our  Realme  of 


13 

England  without  licence,  or  any  statute,  act,  law,  or  any  ordi- 
nance whatsoever  to  the  contrary  in  any  wise  notwithstanding. 

And  we  do  likewise  by  these  presents,  of  our  especial  grace, 
meere  motion,  and  certaine  knowledge,  for  us,  our  heires  and 
successors,  give  and  graunt  full  authoritie,  libertie  and  power 
to  the  said  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires  and  assignes,  and  every 
of  them,  that  he  and  they,  and  every  or  any  of  them  shall  and 
may  at  all  and  every  time  and  times  hereafter,  have,  take,  and 
leade  in  the  sayde  voyage,  and  travaile  thitherward,  or  to  in- 
habite  there  with  him  or  them,  and  every  or  any  of  them, 
such  and  so  many  of  our  subjects  as  shall  willingly  accompany 
him  or  them,  and  every  or  any  of  them  :  and  to  whom  also  we 
doe  by  these  presents,  give  full  libertie  and  authoritie  in  that 
behalfe,  and  also  to  have,  take  and  employ,  and  use  sufficient 
shipping  and  furniture  for  the  transportations,  and  Navigations 
in  that  behalfe,  so  that  none  of  the  same  persons  or  any  of 
them  be  such  as  hereafter  shall  be  restrained  by  us,  our  heires 
or  successors. 

And  further  that  the  said  Walter  Ralegh  his  heires  and 
assignes,  and  every  of  them,  shall  have,  holde,  occupie  and 
enjoy  to  him,  his  heires  and  assignes,  and  every  of  them  for 
ever,  all  the  soyle  of  all  such  landes,  territories,  and  Coun- 
treis,  so  to  be  discovered  and  possessed  as  aforesayd,  and  of 
all  such  Cities,  Castles,  Townes,  Villages,  and  places  in  the 
same,  with  the  right  royalties,  franchises,  and  jurisdictions,  as 
well  marine  as  other  within  the  sayd  landes,  or  Countreis,  or 
the  seas  thereunto  adjoyning,  to  be  had,  or  used,  with  full 
power  to  dispose  thereof,  and  of  every  part  in  fee  simple  or 
otherwise,  according  to  the  order  of  the  lawes  of  England,  as 
neere  as  the  same  conveniently  may  be,  at  his,  and  their  wil 
and  pleasure,  to  any  persons  then  being,  or  that  shall  remaine 
within  the  allegiance  of  us,  our  heires  and  successors  :  reserv- 
ing alwayes  to  us,  our  heires  and  successors,  for  all  services, 
dueties,  and  demaunds,  the  fift  part  of  all  the  oare  of  golde 
and  silver,  that  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  after  such 
discoverie,  subduing  and  possessing,  shall  be  there  gotten  and 
obteined :  All  which  lands,  Countreis,  and  territories  shall 
for  ever  be  holden  of  the  said  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires  and 
assignes,  of  us,  our  heires  and  successors,  by  homage,  and  by 
the  sayd  payment  of  the  said  fift  part,  reserved  onely  for  all 
services. 

And  moreover,  we'  do  by  these  presents,  for  us,  our  heires 


H 

and  successors,  give  and  grant  licence  to  the  said  Walter 
Ralegh,  his  heires,  and  assignes,  and  every  of  them,  that  he 
and  they,  and  every  or  any  of  them,  shall  and  may  from  time 
to  time,  and  at  all  times  for  ever  hereafter,  for  his  and  their 
defence,  encounter  and  expulse,  repell  and  resist  aswell  by 
sea  as  by  lande,  and  by  all  other  wayes  whatsoever,  all  and 
every  such  person  and  persons  whatsoever,  as  without  es- 
peciall  liking  and  licence  of  the  sayd  Walter  Ralegh,  and  of 
his  heires  and  assignes,  shall  attempt  to  inhabite  within  the 
sayde  Countreys,  or  any  of  them,  or  within  the  space  of  two 
hundreth  leagues  neere  to  the  place  or  places  within  such 
Countreys  as  aforesayd  (if  they  shall  not  bee  before  planted  or 
inhabited  within  the  limits  as  aforesayd  with  the  subjects  of 
any  Christian  Prince  being  in  amitie  with  us)  where  the  sayd 
Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires,  or  assignes,  or  any  of  them,  or  his, 
or  their,  Or  any  of  their  associats  or  company,  shall  within 
sixe  yeeres  (next  ensuing)  make  their  dwellings  or  abidings, 
or  that  shall  enterprise  or  attempt  at  any  time  hereafter  un- 
lawfully to  annoy,  eyther  by  Sea  or  Lande  the  sayde  Walter 
Ralegh,  his  heires  or  assignes,  or  any  of  them,  or  his  or  their, 
or  any  of  his  or  their  companies :  giving  and  graunting  by 
these  presents  further  power  and  authoritie  to  the  sayd 
Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires  and  assignes,  and  every  of  them 
from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  for  ever  hereafter,  to  take 
and  surprise  by  all  maner  of  meanes  whatsoever,  all  and  every 
those  person  or  persons,  with  their  Shippes,  Vessels,  and  other 
goods  and  furniture,  which  without  the  licence  of  the  sayde 
Walter  Ralegh,  or  his  heires,  or  assignes,  as  aforesayd,  shalbe 
found  traffiquing  into  any  Harbour,  or  Harbours,  Creeke,  or 
Ci'eekes,  within  the  limits  aforesayd,  (the  subjects  of  our 
Realmes  and  Dominions,  and  all  other  persons  in  amitie 
with  us,  trading  to  the  Newfound  lands  for  fishing  as  hereto- 
fore they  have  commonly  used,  or  being  driven  by  force  of 
a  tempest,  or  shipwracke  onely  excepted :)  and  those  persons, 
and  every  of  them,  with  their  shippes,  vessels,  goods,  and 
furniture  to  deteine  and  possesse  as  of  good  and  lawfull  prize, 
according  to  the  discretion  of  him  the  sayd  Walter  Ralegh, 
his  heires,  and  assignes,  and  every,  or  any  of  them.  And  for 
uniting  in  more  perfect  league  and  amitie,  of  such  Coun- 
tryes,  landes,  and  territories  so  to  be  possessed  and  inhabited 
as  aforesayd  with  our  Realmes  of  England  and  Ireland,  and 
the  better  incouragement  of   men   to   these    enterprises :   we 


i5 

doe  by  these  presents,  graunt  and  declare  that  all  such  Coun- 
tries, so  hereafter  to  be  possessed  and  inhabited  as  is  afore- 
sayd,  from  thencefoorth  shall  be  of  the  allegiance  of  us,  our 
heires  and  successours.  And  wee  doe  graunt  to  the  sayd 
Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires,  and  assignes,  and  to  all,  and  every 
of  them,  and  to  all,  and  every  other  person  and  persons,  being 
of  our  allegiance,  whose  names  shall  be  noted  or  entred  in 
some  of  our  Courts  of  recorde  within  our  Realme  of  Eng- 
land, that  with  the  assent  of  the  sayd  Walter  Ralegh,  his 
heires  or  assignes,  shall  in  his  journeis  for  discoverie,  or  in 
the  journeis  for  conquest  hereafter  travaile  to  such  lands, 
countreis  and  territories,  as  aforesayd,  and  to  their,  and  to 
.  every  of  their  heires,  that  they,  and  every  or  any  of  them, 
being  eyther  borne  within  our  sayde  Realmes  of  England  or 
'  Irelande,  or  in  any  other  place  within  our  allegiance,  and 
which  hereafter  shall  be  inhabiting  within  any  the  Lands, 
Countryes,  and  Territories,  with  such  licence  (as  aforesayd) 
shall  and  may  have  all  the  priviledges  of  free  Denizens,  and 
persons  native  of  England,  and  within  our  allegiance  in  such 
like  ample  maner  and  forme,  as  if  they  were  borne  and  per- 
sonally resident  within  our  said  Realme  of  England,  any  law, 
custome,  or  usage  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

And  forasmuch  as  upon  the  finding  out,  discovering,  or 
inhabiting  of  such  remote  lands,  countries,  and  territories  as 
aforesaid,  it  shalbe  necessary  for  the  safety  of  all  men,  that 
shall  adventure  themselves  in  those  journeys  or  voyages,  to 
determine  to  live  together  in  Christian  peace,  and  civill  quiet- 
nesse  eche  with  other,  whereby  every  one  may  with  more 
pleasure  and  profit  enjoy  that  whereunto  they  shall  atteine 
with  great  paine  and  perill,  wee  for  us,  our  heires  and  succes- 
sors, are  likewise  pleased  and  contented,  and  by  these  presents 
doe  give  &  grant  to  the  said  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires  and 
assignes  for  ever,  that  he  and  they,  and  every  or  any  of  them, 
shall  and  may  from  time  to  time  for  ever  hereafter,  within  the 
said  mentioned  remote  lands  and  countries,  in  the  way  by  the 
seas  thither,  and  from  thence,  have  full  and  meere  power  and 
authoritie  to  correct,  punish,  pardon,  governe,  and  rule  by  their 
and  every  or  any  of  their  good  discretions  and  policies,  as  well 
in  causes  capitall,  or  criminall,  as  civill,  both  marine  and  other, 
all  such  our  subjects,  as  shal  from  time  to  time  adventure 
themselves  in  the  said  journeis  or  voyages,  or  that  shall  at  any 
time  hereafter  inhabite  any  such  lands,  countreis,  or  territories 


i6 

as  aforesayd,  or  that  shall  abide  within  200.  leagues  of  any  of 
the  sayde  place  or  places,  where  the  sayde  Walter  Ralegh,  his 
heires  or  assignes,  or  any  of  them,  or  any  of  his  or  their  asso- 
ciats  or  companies,  shall  inhabite  within  6.  yeeres  next  ensuing 
the  date  hereof,  according  to  such  statutes,  lawes  and  ordi- 
nances as  shall  be  by  him  the  sayd  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires 
and  assignes,  and  every  or  any  of  them  devised,  or  established, 
for  the  better  government  of  the  said  people  as  aforesaid.  So 
alwayes  as  the  said  statutes,  lawes,  and  ordinances  may  be,  as 
nere  as  conveniently  may  bee,  agreeable  to  the  forme  of  the 
lawes,  statutes,  government,  or  pollicie  of  England,  and  also  so 
as  they  be  not  against  the  true  Christian  faith,  nowe  professed 
in  the  Church  of  England,  nor  in  any  wise  to  withdrawe 
any  of  the  subjects  or  people  of  those  lands  or  places  from  the 
alleagance  of  us,  our  heires  and  successours,  as  their  imme- 
diate Soveraigne  under  God. 

And  further,  we  doe  by  these  presents  for  us,  our  heires  and 
successors,  give  and  grant  ful  power  and  authoritie  to  our 
trustie  and  welbeloved  Counsailour  Sir  William  Cecill  knight, 
Lorde  Burgh  ley,  or  high  Treasourer  of  England,  and  to  the 
Lorde  Treasourer  of  England  for  us,  our  heires  and  successors, 
for  the  time  being,  and  to  the  privie  Counsaile  of  us,  our  heires 
and  successors,  or  any  foure  or  more  of  them,  for  the  time 
being,  that  he,  they,  or  any  foure  or  more  of  them,  shall  and  may 
from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  hereafter,  under  his  or  their 
handes  or  Seales  by  vertue  of  these  presents,  authorize  and 
licence  the  sayd  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires  and  assignes,  and 
every  or  any  of  them  by  him,  &  by  themselves,  or  by  their,  or 
any  of  their  sufficient  Atturnies,  Deputies,  Officers,  Ministers, 
Factors,  and  servants,  to  imbarke  &  transport  out  of  our 
Realme  of  England  and  Ireland,  and  the  Dominions  thereof,  all 
or  any  of  his  or  their  goods,  and  all  or  any  the  goods  of  his 
and  their  associats  and  companies,  and  every  or  any  of  them, 
with  such  other  necessaries  and  commodities  of  any  our 
Realmes,  as  to  the  sayde  Lorde  Treasurer,  or  foure  or  more  of 
the  privie  Counsaile,  of  us  our  heires  and  successors  for  the 
time  being  (as  aforesaid)  shalbe  from  time  to  time  by  his  or 
their  wisedomes,  or  discretions  thought  meete  and  convenient, 
for  the  better  relief e  and  supportation  of  him  the  sayde  Walter 
Ralegh,  his  heires,  and  assignes,  and  every  or  any  of  them, 
and  of  his  or  their  or  any  of  their  associats  and  companies, 
any  act,  statute,  law,  or  any  thing  to  the  contrary  in  any  wise 
notwithstanding. 


17 

Provided  alwayes,  and  our  wil  and  pleasure  is,  and  we  do 
hereby  declare  to  all  Christian  kings,  princes,  and  states,  that 
if  the  sayde  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires  or  assignes,  or  any  of 
them,  or  any  other  by  their  licence  or  appointment,  shall  at 
any  time  or  times  hereafter  robbe  or  spoile  by  sea  or  by 
land,  or  doe  any  acte  of  unjust  or  unlawful!  hostilitie,  to  any 
of  the  subjects  of  us,  our  heires  or  successors,  or  to  any  of 
the  subjects  of  any  the  kings,  princes,  rulers,  Governours,  or 
estates,  being  then  in  perfect  league  and  amitie  with  us,  our 
heires  and  successours,  and  that  upon  such  injurie,  or  upon 
just  complaint  of  any  such  Prince,  Ruler,  Governour  or 
estate,  or  their  subjects,  wee,  our  heires  and  successors,  shall 
-make  open  Proclamation  within  any  the  portes  of  our 
Realme  of  England,  that  the  saide  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires 
and  assignes,  and  adherents,  or  any  to  whom  these  our  Let- 
ters patents  may  extende,  shall  within  the  termes  to  bee  lim- 
ited, by  such  Proclamation,  make  full  restitution,  and  satis- 
faction of  all  such  injuries  done  :  so  as  both  we  and  the  said 
Princes,  or  other  so  complaining,  may  hold  us  and  themselves 
fully  contented  :  And  that  if  the  said  Walter  Ralegh,  his 
heires  and  assignes,  shall  not  make  or  cause  to  be  made  satis- 
faction accordingly  within  such  time  so  to  be  limited,  that 
then  it  shal  be  lawful  to  us,  our  heires  and  successors,  to  put 
the  sayd  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires  and  assignes,  and  adher- 
ents, and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  saide  places  to  be  dis- 
covered (as  is  aforesaid)  or  any  of  them  out  of  our  allegeance 
and  protection,  and  that  from  and  after  such  time  of  putting 
out  of  protection  of  the  sayde  Walter  Ralegh,  his  heires, 
assignes  and  adherents,  and  others  so  to  be  put  out,  and  the 
said  places  within  their  habitation,  possession  and  rule,  shall 
be  out  of  our  allegeance  and  protection,  and  free  for  all 
Princes  and  others  to  pursue  with  hostilitie,  as  being  not  our 
subjects,  nor  by  us  any  way  to  be  avouched,  maintained,  or 
defended,  nor  to  be  holden  as  any  of  ours,  nor  to  our  protec- 
tion, or  dominion,  or  allegeance  any  way  belonging :  for  that 
expresse  mention  of  the  cleere  yeerely  value  of  the  certaintie 
of  the  premisses,  or  any  part  thereof,  or  of  any  other  gift,  or 
grant  by  us,  or  any  our  progenitors,  or  predecessors  to  the 
said  Walter  Ralegh,  before  this  time  made  in  these  presents 
bee  not  expressed,  or  any  other  grant,  ordinance,  provision, 
proclamation,  or  restraint  to  the  contrary  thereof,  before  this 
time,  given,  ordained,  or  provided,  or  any  other  thing,   cause, 


or  matter  whatsoever,  in  any  wise  notwithstanding.  In  wit- 
nesse  whereof,  wee  have  caused  these  our  letters  to  be  made 
Patents.  Witnesse  our  selves,  at  Westminster  the  five  and 
twentie  day  of  March,  in  the  sixe  and  twentith  yeere  of  our 
Raigns. 


An  Extract  of  Master  Ralph  Lane's  Letter  to  M.  Richard 
Hakluyt  Esquire,  and  another  Gentleman  of  the  Middle 
Temple,  from  Virginia. 

In  the  meane  while  you  shall  understand,  that  since  Sir  Richard 
Greenvils  departure  from  us,  as  also  before,  we  have  discovered  the 
maine  to  be  the  goodliest  soyle  under  the  cope  of  heaven,  so  abound- 
ing with  sweete  trees,  that  bring  such  sundry  rich  and  pleasant 
gummes,  grapes  of  such  greatnesse,  yet  wilde,  as  France,  Spaine  nor 
Italie  have  no  greater,  so  many  sorts  of  Apothecarie  drugs,  such  sev- 
erall  kindes  of  flaxe,  &  one  kind  like  silke,  the  same  gathered  of  a 
grasse,  as  common  there,  as  grasse  is  here.  And  now  within  these 
few  dayes  we  have  found  here  Maiz  or  Guinie  wheate,  whose  eare 
yeeldeth  corne  for  bread  400.  upon  one  eare,  and  the  Cane  maketh 
very  good  and  perfect  sugar,  also  Terra  Samia,  otherwise  Terra 
sigillata.  Besides  that,  it  is  the  goodliest  and  most  pleasing  Terri- 
torie  of  the  world :  for  the  continent  is  of  an  huge  and  unknowen 
greatnesse,  and  very  well  peopled  and  towned,  though  savagely,  and 
the  climate  so  wholesome,  that  wee  had  not  one  sicke  since  we 
touched  the  land  here.  To  conclude,  if  Virginia  had  but  horses 
and  kine  in  some  reasonable  proportion,  I  dare  assure  my  selfe  being 
inhabited  with  English,  no  realms  in  Christendome  were  comparable 
to  it.  For  this  already  we  finde,  that  what  commodities  soever 
Spaine,  France,  Italy,  or  the  East  partes  doe  yeeld  unto  us,  in  wines 
of  all  sortes,  in  oyles,  in  flaxe,  in  rosens,  pitch,  frankensence,  cor- 
rans,  sugers,  and  such  like,  these  parts  doe  abound  with  the  growth 
of  them  all,  but  being  Savages  that  possesse  the  land,  they  know  no 
use  of  the  same.  And  sundry  other  rich  commodities,  that  no  parts 
of  the  world,  be  they  the  West  or  East  Indies,  have,  here  wee  finde 
great  abundance  of.  The  people  naturally  are  most  courteous  and 
very  desirous  to  have  clothes,  but  especially  of  course  cloth  rather 
then  silke,  course  canvas  they  also  like  well  of,  but  copper  caryeth 
the  price  of  all,  so  it  be  made  red.  Thus  good  M.  Hakluyt  and 
M.  H.  I  have  joyned  you  both  in  one  letter  of  remembrance,  as  two 
that  I  love  dearely  well,  and  commending  me  most  heartily  to  you 
both,  I  commit  you  to  the  tuition  of  the  Almightie.  From  the  new 
Fort  in  Virginia,  this  third  of  September,  1585. 

Your  most  assured  friend  Ralph  Lane. 


19 


"History  has  recorded  the  lives  of  few  men  more  renowned  than  Walter  Ralegh, —  the 
soldier,  the  sailor,  the  statesman,  the  courtier,  the  poet,  the  historian,  and  the  philosopher. 
The  age  in  which  he  lived,  the  versatility  of  his  genius,  his  conspicuous  services,  and  '  the  deep 
damnation  of  his  taking  off,' — all  conspired  to  exalt  his  memory  among  men  and  to  render  it 
immortal.  Success  often  crowned  his  efforts  in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  the  impress 
of  his  genius  is  clearly  traced  upon  her  history;  but  his  greatest  service  to  England  and  to 
the  world  was  his  pioneer  effort  to  colonize  America,  in  which  he  experienced  the  most  mor- 
tifying defeat.  Baffled  in  his  endeavor  to  plant  the  English  race  upon  this  continent,  he  yet 
called  into  existence  a  spirit  of  enterprise  which  first  gave  Virginia  and  then  North  America 
to  that  race,  and  which  led  Great  Britain  from  this  beginning  to  dot  the  map  of  the  world  with 
her  colonies,  and  through  them  to  become  the  greatest  power  of  the  earth." 

These  are  the  opening  words  of  Mr.  William  Wirt  Henry's  valuable  chapter  upon  Ralegh 
in  the  third  volume  of  the  "Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,"  which  volume  is 
entirely  devoted  to  English  explorations  and  settlements  in  North  America.  Mr.  Henry's 
chapter  is  followed  by  a  critical  essay  on  the  sources  of  information  about  Ralegh's  life  and 
efforts  for  American  colonization ;  and  this  is  commended  to  the  student  as  the  completest 
bibliography.  The  article  on  Ralegh  in  the  "Dictionary  of  National  Biography"  should 
also  be  consulted. 

This  great  pioneer  in  the  work  of  English  colonization  in  America  is  in  many  ways  the 
•  most  brilliant  name  in  the  whole  history  of  our  period  of  colonization.  As  early  as  157S, 
when  he  was  but  twenty-six  years  old,  Ralegh  sailed  for  America,  commanding  one  of  the 
seven  ships  in  the  fleet  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  his  half-brother.  He  had  already  dis- 
covered that  the  power  of  Spain  was  largely  due  to  the  wealth  she  derived  from  America,  and 
he  desired  to  secure  for  England  the  same  source  of  power.  His  attention  had  been  attracted 
to  the  coast  of  Florida  by  Coligny,  whose  Huguenot  colony  there  had  been  destroyed  by 
Menendez  in  1565.  Gilbert's  fleet  met  with  disaster,  and  was  forced  to  return.  The  object 
of  Ralegh's  passionate  desire  remained,  however,  the  English  colonization  of  America.  He 
furnished  one  of  the  five  ships  with  which  Sir  Humphrey  sailed,  in  15S3,  upon  his  last  and 
most  disastrous  voyage  to  America,  and  was  only  prevented  from  going  with  him  by  the 
order  of  the  queen,  who  was  unwilling  that  her  favorite  should  incur  the  risk  of  any  "danger- 
ous sea  fights."  In  1584  Ralegh  obtained  a  new  charter,  given  in  the  present  leaflet,  drawn 
more  carefully  with  a  view  to  foster  colonization,  giving  the  colonists  "all  the  privileges  of 
free  denizens  and  persons  native  of  England."  To  this  provision,  which  was  the  ground 
upon  which  the  struggle  with  the  mother  country  leading  to  the  Revolution  and  to  American 
independence  was  maintained,  we  are  doubtless  indebted  to  Ralegh.  In  April,  15S4,  Ralegh 
sent  Captains  Amadas  and  Barlowe  with  two  ships  to  explore  the  Atlantic  coast  north  of 
Florida,  with  a  view  to  a  permanent  colony.  Their  report  to  Ralegh  upon  their  return  is 
given  in  the  present  leaflet.  Their  enthusiastic  account  delighted  the  queen  as  much  as  it 
delighted  Ralegh,  and  she  named  the  newly  discovered  country  Virginia.  Ralegh  made 
everything  ready  by  the  next  spring  for  planting  a  colony  in  Virginia.  In  April,  15S5,  seven 
ships  sailed  from  Plymouth  in  command  of  his  cousin,  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  "with  one 
hundred  householders  and  many  things  necessary  to  begin  a  new  state." 

The  colony  itself  was  put  in  the  immediate  charge  of  Ralph  Lane;  and  his  deputy  was 
Captain  Philip  Amadas,  who  had  been  one  of  the  commanders  of  the  first  expedition,  described 
in  this  leaflet.  Thomas  Cavendish  and  Thomas  Hariot  were  other  leading  men  in  the  company. 
Grenville  landed  the  colony  at  Roanoke  Island,  leaving  Lane  in  charge  of  more  than  a  hun- 
dred men,  and  sailed  for  England,  promising  to  return  with  supplies.  His  return  was  de- 
layed, and  the  sufferings  of  the  colony  were  severe;  and  Sir  Francis  Drake,  putting  in  at 
Roanoke  with  his  fleet,  in  1586,  after  sacking  St.  Augustine,  took  the  whole  company  back  to 
England.  A  ship  soon  arrived  with  supplies  sent  by  Ralegh,  but,  finding  no  one  on  the 
island,  returned,  as  did  Grenville,  who  arrived  with  three  ships  immediately  afterwards.  He 
left  fifteen  men,  however,  with  provisions  for  two  years,  to  retain  possession  of  the  country; 
but  when  John  White,  sent  by  Ralegh  the  next  year,  with  a  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  came 
to  Roanoke,  it  was  to  find  that  these  men  had  been  massacred  by  the  natives.  White,  leaving 
his  colony,  returned  to  England  for  help:  and,  in  his  absence,  the  company  mysteriously  dis- 
appeared. It  was  learned  after  the  settlement  of  Jamestown  that  they  had  intermixed  with 
the  natives,  and  finally  had  been  massacred,  only  seven  escaping.  Ralegh,  who  had  already 
spent  forty  thousand  pounds  in  his  efforts  to  colonize  Virginia,  continued  to  send  out  ships  to 
look  for  his  lost  colony;  and  in  1602  he  expressed  his  faith  in  the  colonization  of  Virginia  in 
the  words,  "  I  shall  yet  live  to  see  it  an  English  nation." 

Mr.  Henry  well  says:  "Although  the  colonies  he  sent  to  Virginia  perished,  to  Ralegh 
must  be  awarded  the  honor  of  securing  the  possession  of  North  America  to  the  English. 
It  was  through  his  enterprise  that  the  advantages  of  its  soil  and  climate  were  made  known  in 
England,  and  that  the  Chesapeake  Bay  was  fixed  upon  as  the  proper  place  of  settlement ; 
and  it  was  his  genius  that  created  the  spirit  of  colonization  which  led  to  the  successful  settle- 
ment upon  that  bay."  Ten  of  the  nineteen  merchants  who  co-operated  with  him  in  sending 
out  White's  colony,  which  was  destined  ultimately  for  the  Chesapeake,  were  afterwards  sub- 
scribers to  the  Virginia  Company  which  settled  Jamestown. 


20 


There  is  a  considerable  original  literature  touching  the  Roanoke  enterprise.  Eesides  the 
account  of  the  first  expedition  here  given,  the  account  of  Grenville's  voyage,  in  1585  was 
written  by  one  of  the  persons  accompanying  Grenville;  and  the  account  of  what  happ'ened 
after  their  arrival  was  written  by  one  of  the  colonists,  probably  Ralph  Lane  himself.  An 
account  of  the  country  was  written  by  Thomas  Hariot ;  and  John  White  wrote  accounts  of  liis 
voyages.  These  are  all  found  together  in  Hakluyt,  in  the  first  volume  of  Hawks's  "  His- 
tory of  North  Carolina,"  and  (in  best  form)  in  the  volume  on  "  Sir  Walter  Ralegh  and  his 
Colony  in  America,"  edited,  with  memoir  and  historical  illustrations,  by  Rev.  Increase  N. 
Tarbox,  published  by  the  Prince  Society. 

In    1595,  and   again   in    1617,   Ralegh  himself   commanded   expeditions  to   the   coast  of 
South  America,  on  the  former  sailing  four  hundred  miles  up  the  Orinoco.    Returning  I 
and  dispirited  from  the  second  expedition  in  1618,  it  was  to  find  himself  overwhelmed  by  Ms 
enemies;   and  his  execution  followed  almost  immediately.     But  Jamestown  was  now  eieven 
years  old,  and  the  Pilgrims  in  Holland  were  thinking  of  New  England. 

The  voyages  to  Guiana  are  related  by  Ralegh  himself.  In  Ralegh's  "  History  of  the 
World,"  as  Mr.  Henry  notes,  "he  often  illustrates  his  subject  by  the  incidents  of  his  own 
life;  and  thus  we  have  in  thebook  much  of  an  autobiography." 

The  lives  of  Ralegh  are  almost  numberless.  No  Englishman  of  that  great  time,  almost 
no  man  of  any  time,  has  been  the  subject  of  so  many  biographies.  The  most  important  ;f 
the  early  ones  is  that  by  William  Oldys.  The  completest  and  most  critical  work  is  that  by 
Edward  Edwards  (1868),  who  in  his  introduction  gives  a  good  estimate  of  the  preceding  biog- 
raphies. Perhaps  the  best  of  the  shorter  lives  is  that  by  Stebbing  (1891);  and  the  brief 
biographies  by  Gosse,  Towle,  and  Louise  Creighton  will  serve  the  younger  people.  Gardi- 
ner, in  his  History  of  England,  gives  a  complete  account  of  Ralegh's  public  life  from  the 
ascension  of  James  I.,  which  is  invaluable  for  the  careful  student. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00032204481 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


